Chinook catch differs between lakes

After hitting the bottom in 2005, the Lake Huron Chinook salmon fishery is showing a bit of recovery. Meanwhile, the Lake Michigan salmon fishery is at its peak, according to state fisheries officials.

"The Chinook catch in Lake Huron has been increasing very slightly over the last two years," said Donna Wesander, with the DNR's Great Lakes Fishery Research Center in Charlevoix. Wesander recently presented charter catch data to a roomful of captains in Grand Haven.

"The fish appear to be looking a little healthier," she said. "In Lake Michigan, we are at the peak. The numbers have been steadily increasing over the last six to seven years."

Chinook catch rates, or the number caught by charter anglers in an hour, inched up to .08 per angler hour on Lake Huron in 2007. They hit .294 per angler hour on Lake Michigan.

"The Lake Michigan charter catch is the best it ever has been," said Dave Clapp, the head of the Charlevoix research station.

Lake Michigan anglers caught 84,600 Chinook salmon in 2007, the best year since 1993 which was the bottom of a Chinook salmon crash due to Bacterial Kidney disease.

Anglers caught more fish on every excursion, though the big salmon were smaller than in the past. There were few 20-pounders. Thirty-pounders are virtually unheard of now.

The top port for big kings was Ludington, followed by Grand Haven, Manistee and Frankfort. Coho salmon catches were best at Ludington, St. Joseph, Grand Haven and Manistee.

The ports with the highest number of salmon and trout combined/per excursion were Pentwater followed by Michigan City, Saugatuck and Ludington.